Ivan Toney has hinted that his betting past still "haunts" him as he prepares to return to the Brentford team after an eight-month suspension.
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Toney banned for betting offencesWill play for Brentford against Nottingham ForestOpens up on his pastWHAT HAPPENED?
Toney was banned for eight months after breaching the FA's rules on gambling offences, with 232 breaches confirmed. He is now preparing to make his return, as manager Thomas Frank has confirmed that he will start for the Bees against Nottingham Forest this weekend, while also captaining the club. However, he has now opened up on his past, admitting that he lost a huge amount of money amid his gambling exploits.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWHAT TONEY SAID
Toney told the : "You just look back and look at the money you've lost and what that could have gone towards. These kinds of things. But the more you do that, the more you drive yourself crazy."
Asked how much he had lost in total, the forward replied: "Good question. I couldn't tell you. I literally couldn't tell you. The more I think about it, the more I dwell on the past. It will haunt you even more and pain you."
He also says he barely bet on anything other than football, adding: "Maybe a horse at the Cheltenham Festival but that was it. The past is the past, so why let it hurt you?"
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Toney has admitted that he could seek an exit from Brentford in the near future, as he says that he would like to play for a "top club", amid links with both Arsenal and Chelsea. It would be a shock were he to leave in January, but he may well seek an exit in the summer. His contract with the Bees runs until 2025.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR TONEY?
His long-awaited return will take place this weekend against Forest. It remains to be seen if he can recapture the form that saw him score 20 goals in one season prior to his suspension.